DaMom

We are considering signing up for one of the ship excursions that drops you off at the airport that evening. I understand it's a good 1.5-2 hour drive to get to Santiago. Has anyone used a reliable shuttle or tour that gets you to the airport?

Sorry for the vagueness! Will be flying from LAX (Los Angeles) to EZE (Buenos Aires) in Feb. '25. 

I'm not familiar with Copa or LATAM and they seem to be our main options. Bonus points if you can speak to their Business class! Thanks in advance!

Thank you, that's very helpful!

I see these kinds of listings on a lot of our ship excursions "When visiting sacred sites wear conservative attire. Clothing should cover the shoulders and knees. Shorts are not permitted." I am planning to wear mostly longer dresses and skirts - I feel set for what to wear. Recognizing that there is sometimes a double standard for what men and women are permitted to wear - would a statement like I listed also refer to men, and mean that they should be wearing long pants in "sacred sites"? We're going at the peak of summer.... (not that that would matter to anyone, just that long pants will be a hard sell to DH...) 

They look very much the same (elephant seals, Magellanic penguins, BBQ lamb lunch) but El Pedral is $100 less. Can't tell how long the El Pedral tour is, though it does say "all day".

Your thoughts on one or the other tour? Thanks!

I've read that several of the early Sun Princess Mediterranean cruises have substituted Bar, Montenegro for Kotor. Does anyone know if this will happen across the board with future sailings? Something about Kotor not realizing just how large the Sun is?

Not looking for anything fancy, but scenic/picturesque appreciated with bonus points for outside dining with or without a view. A block or two off the main drag could be good as we're going in peak season. Thanks in advance!

5 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

We've met folks from 18 to 90+ on our sailings. If I were to guess, I would peg the median age at 50 for the four sailings we've taken so far. It skews younger on the 4 nighters and older on the 6 and 8 nighters. VV is for those who are young at heart, age is irrelevant. 🙂

Thanks, Walter! I watched one of your videos and that was quite helpful as well!

Thinking about a VV cruise next year with our son and his gf (late 20s). We are mid-60s/early 70s. Will we be the oldest people on the ship 😉 what's the actual age range on VV (as opposed to what they advertise to)? 

On 3/11/2024 at 7:37 PM, DaMom said:

I'm attempting to use Spain Day Tours in Barcelona this summer and am having a really hard time confirming the trip. Which does not bode well. Giving them another 24 hours and then sadly, will move on. Sadly because it sound like a great tour at a good price. Will post here if I hear back and move forward.

I did hear back in the nick of time - not sure where the disconnect was, but will think positively and look forward to visiting this beautiful city! Will hang on to the toll free number listed above!

Safe area, central location, near restaurants? Bonus points for included breakfast and/or airport shuttle. Hoping to stay a few days pre-cruise next February. Thanks! 

I'm attempting to use Spain Day Tours in Barcelona this summer and am having a really hard time confirming the trip. Which does not bode well. Giving them another 24 hours and then sadly, will move on. Sadly because it sound like a great tour at a good price. Will post here if I hear back and move forward.

I understand there are opportunities to get fairly up close to penguins at several ports in South America.  What are the best places to see penguins and be allowed to walk near them (no contact, obviously!) among the following: Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt. Thanks! from two big Penguin Fans...

Do any of the cabins on StarBreeze have "actual" balconies, or are they all French balconies due to the size of the ship? We're used to big old ships where a special time of day is sitting out on your balcony with your coffee or a glass of wine...

On 8/7/2023 at 11:01 AM, Host Jazzbeau said:

My wife was diagnosed with a meningioma 11 years ago, an 'incidental finding' before any seizures started, and the surgeons we consulted with all suggested having it removed sooner rather than later even though it was still completely self-contained.  We did, and all has been well since then.  OTOH someone we know discovered her meningioma only after seizures started and things did not go well for her.  I strongly suggest that you get a second opinion at a different hospital and consider immediate surgery.  [We rejected Memorial Sloan Kettering as uncaring and found a wonderful surgeon who is now at Lenox Hill: John Boockvar.  You might consider a quick trip to NYC to consult with him.]

John Boockvar is a legend - watch the Netflix documentary series Lenox Hill, and the follow-up, Emergency NYC. I'm on the West Coast and I would fly across country to consult with this doctor. I'm so glad all has been well with your wife and hope that you've been able to continue cruising!

I'm having trouble finding who goes around Tahiti because none of my go-tos (Celebrity, Princess, RCCL) do shorter trips. I'm seeing a lot of 30 day cruises and we can't go that long. Guessing I need a smaller ship - what can you recommend?

We visited Grenada in 2019 and had a similar experience with Stan and J&J Tours. Lovely man, extremely knowledgeable about his island and I still treasure the pics we took with a monkey on my shoulder!

I can only speak to the chocolate tour we did in the DR, for what it's worth - it was fascinating! Hoping you get a response from someone who's done one in Grenada because I'd be interested to do another  when we return to the Caribbean later this year.

We're visiting Grenada on a Caribbean Cruise with Princess in November 2023.

3 hours ago, DonnaMW said:

July 4 on the Edge. Vaccinated  Band

not adjustable or removable. Only with scissors

“Someday is here” band

How is Captain Kate? I feel like she wouldn't take any guff from the unvaccinated. Wish I could book a cruise on her ship...enjoy!!

We will cancel. Right now we're on a Norwegian cruise in October and they are requiring vax certs through October at the moment. Ready to bail if that changes.

Contemplating dipping our toes back in the water with a Mexican Riviera cruise in September out of LA - rather confused as to what Princess is doing or leaning towards. Would be much more likely to book if they require vaccinations.

Thanks for the response and the map, but not sure why it's an "of course" when so many port towns are not that easily walkable from the dock.... and while I'm not disabled per se, I have a tricky back which makes extensive walking challenging.

I wrote to them on the 2nd and haven't heard back...is that normal and I should be patient? We arrive on St. Croix in April...